Tampa Jury Rules Schnitts Were Not Defamed

A jury has sided with Bubba the Love Sponge Clem in the defamation trial between two Tampa-based radio shock jocks.

WTSP 10News reports jurors found comments Clem made on-air about his radio rival Todd "MJ" Schnitt and Schnitt's wife Michelle did not defame them and no financial damages were awarded.

Attorneys for Schnitt told jurors Wednesday that Clem defamed Schnitt "out of sheer hatred." Clem's lawyer countered by saying that "context is everything."

The jury deliberated for about three hours on whether Clem's on-air statements about Schnitt and his wife, Michelle, were injurious before coming back with a not guilty verdict on all 24 counts.

Schnitt filed the suit, claiming Clem and his Bubba Radio Network defamed the Schnitts and incited Clem's fans, known as the "Bubba Army," to harass the family.

Schnitt didn't speak with reporters after the verdict, but did write on his Twitter page: "My wife & I were protecting our reputations & also standing up for so many others who have been defamed, but didn't have the means to fight."

My wife & I were protecting our reputations & also standing up for so many others who have been defamed, but didn't have the means to fight.
— Todd Schnitt (@toddschnitt) January 30, 2013

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